New Constitution Runs Risk of Deepening North-South Divide in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's new constitution, approved in a recent nationwide referendum, strengthens the decision-making powers of local representative bodies. Officials in Bishkek hope that the move to expand local authority will help reduce social tension in the country. However, there is a risk that the new arrangement could deepen the political and economic divide that separates Kyrgyzstan's northern and southern regions.

According to official figures, voters approved the new constitution by a three-quarters majority in the February 2 referendum. Opposition leaders are disputing the results, alleging that turnout figures were manipulated in order to ensure the referendum's validity. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

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Alisher Khamidov is a Muskie Fellow at Joan B. Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies at Notre Dame University.

New Constitution Runs Risk of Deepening North-South Divide in Kyrgyzstan